Union health minister JP Nadda on Wednesday blamed the Odisha government for the SUM Hospital inferno in Bhubaneswar, which killed 21 people in last two days.

Union health minister JP Nadda on Wednesday blamed the Odisha government for the SUM Hospital inferno in Bhubaneswar, which killed 21 people in last two days.

“Why are such incidents happening in Odisha time and again?” he said while speaking to media persons in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. “The state government has to see that a protocol should be set, and they should be pro-active, and react to such issues in time,” Nadda said, adding, “The central government is there to provide all support.” He said the state government should take strict action against the culprits.

The Union health minister, who was accompanied by Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, met the patients shifted from the SUM Hospital after the fire. He also visited the SUM Hospital.

Nadda said he has found some safety issues that led to the incident. He said that the ministry would revisit the guidelines under the Clinical Establishment Act and issue a fresh advisory to all states so that such incidents do not take place in the future.

“This incident is serious in nature. We are waiting for the inquiry report of the revenue divisional commissioner.

The SUM Hospital is a part of the Shiksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University SUM medical college, run by a private trust. Fire broke out in the hospital dialysis unit on Monday evening due to a short circuit.